A total of 250 Fred. Olsen guests boarded the A330-200 flight to Port Louis, Mauritius, with a duration of 12 hours, to join 880-guest cruise ship, Boudicca, on a 14-night ‘Islands of the Indian Ocean’ getaway.
The lucky Fred. Olsen guests – who will be visiting the Seychelles, Comoros Islands and Réunion Island on this exotic fly-cruise holiday, along with Mauritius – were treated to a tropical ‘Bon voyage!’ at Manchester Airport, as they were each handed a floral ‘lei’ garland and a delicious branded cupcake.
As part of the celebrations, Mrs. Pauline Sherwood was chosen as ‘Guest of Honour’ to perform a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the airport check-in desk. Mrs. Sherwood, who has cruised with Fred. Olsen on 18 separate occasions since 2001, is a valued ‘Platinum’ member of its ‘Oceans’ loyalty club and a great ‘Fred. fan’!
Speaking of her ‘starring role’ on the day, Mrs. Sherwood said: “I was very surprised to be asked to cut the ribbon and I thought I would go with the flow on the day. We do feel at home on the Fred. Olsen ships as we always like smaller ship sailing. It is nice going back and seeing such familiar faces.”
Colleen Crisp, Contracts Manager – Air & Land Services for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We wish all our guests a wonderful time on their ‘Indian Ocean’ adventure and we are very pleased that they could join us in the excitement of launching our first-ever flight from Manchester to Mauritius with Thomas Cook Airlines.
“This is the first year that Fred. Olsen has offered this exotic ‘Indian Ocean’ itinerary, and we are looking forward to working with Thomas Cook Airlines and Manchester Airport Group over the coming months to really give our guests ‘a holiday to remember’.
“What is more, our guests can take advantage of being able to fly direct to Mauritius and join their cruise ship from ‘right on their doorstep’, with all the convenience and excellent facilities of Manchester Airport just nearby.”
Gavin Brewer, who has been leading the partnership for Thomas Cook Airlines, said: “After a successful few years of flying Fred. Olsen customers to Barbados, we are excited to be expanding our partnership to the Indian Ocean. Offering the only direct flight from Manchester to Mauritius, we expect this to prove popular with customers from across the North West who are considering a fly-cruise this winter.”
